The Haunting of the Regions

Genevieve L. Asenjo (b. 1979), with more than 20 years of teaching and professional writing experience, is a Full Professor of literature and creative writing and two-time Chair of the Department of Literature, De La Salle University. She is featured in the 2018 Cultural Center of the Philippines Encyclopedia of Philippine Art (Literature) for her award-winning and multi-genre works in three Philippine languages: Kinaray-a, Hiligaynon, and Filipino. She has authored three bilingual poetry and short story collections, a novel, children’s books, and staged one-act plays. She is well-anthologized locally and published internationally in English translation. Her book Ang Itim na Orkidyas ng Isla Boracay: Mga Kuwento (UP Press, 2021) won the DLSU St. Miguel Febres Cordero Research Award for Outstanding Book, and the Gerardo P. Cabochan Prize for Best Book of Short Fiction in Filipino in the 40th National Book Awards while her poetry collection Indi Natun Kinahanglan kang Duro nga Tinaga sa Atun Tunga/Hindi Natin Kailangan ng Maraming Salita sa Ating Pagitan (University of the Philippines Press, 2020) was a finalist in the same year. Her children’s book is titled Ang Buhok nga Naglimpyo kang Suba/Ang Buhok na Naglinis ng Ilog/The Hair that Cleaned A River (Alamid Publishing House, 2022), with illustration by Viel Vidal.

Darwin Absari is a former Student Regent of the Mindanao State University System. He obtained his undergraduate degree AB in Political Science at the Mindanao State University in Tawi-Tawi in 2004 with University System Leadership Award. In 2013, he finished his M.A. in Islamic Studies at the Institute of Islamic Studies in the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman.

His M.A. Thesis PAG-TUHAN: The Tausug Spiritual Tradition was a recipient of the 2015 National Book Development Thrust Fund. Its book form which was published by UP Press in 2021 was selected as finalist for the best book in Spirituality and Theology during the 40th National Book Awards.

Currently he is an assistant professor and College Secretary at the UP Institute of Islamic Studies teaching Islamic Thought, Legacies of Islamic Civilization and Moro Arts, History, Society and Culture. His other research interests include Pre-Hispanic Philippine History, Islam in Southeast Asia and many others.